Macbook which is the option key

The Backspace key. This key triggers keyboard shortcuts for menu items. The Control key triggers shortcut menus. In the Finder, Microsoft programs, and a few other places, this key opens up the electronic help screens. But you guessed that. As the previous section makes clear, the F-keys at the top of modern Mac keyboards come with predefined functions.

They control screen brightness, keyboard brightness, speaker volume, music playback, and so on. The Fn key lower left on small keyboards, center block of keys on the big ones switches the function of the function keys. From now on, you press the Fn key to get the functions painted on the keys , , , , , , , , and so on. Skip to main content.

Start your free trial. Keyboard Differences. Where the Windows Keys Went. Note Mac keyboard shortcuts are listed at the right side of each open menu, just as in Windows. What the Special Mac Keys Do. Note On most Mac keyboards, the Fn key is in the lower-left corner. Tip Tap either or to skip to the previous or next track or chapter. Tip If you hold down the Shift and Option keys, then tapping the volume keys adjusts the volume by smaller increments, just as with the brightness keys.

T: Start up in target disk mode. Command-V: Start up in verbose mode. If a key combination doesn't work at startup, one of these solutions might help: Press and hold all keys in the combination together, not one at a time.

Shut down your Mac. Then press the power button to turn on your Mac. Then press and hold the keys as your Mac starts up. You might need to wait a few seconds before pressing the keys, to give your Mac more time to recognize the keyboard as it starts up. Some keyboards have a light that flashes briefly at startup, indicating that the keyboard is recognized and ready for use.

If you're using a wireless keyboard, plug it into your Mac, if possible. May 4, at am. May 3, at am. Bert Visscher says:. November 24, at pm.

Sebby says:. Posnovis says:. May 2, at pm. Billary says:. Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. The Mac Option key has different functions depending on the application and key combination. The most common and probably most frequently used commands are:. Besides the functions already mentioned, there are many more applications for the Mac Option key that enable faster controls. Here is an overview of some practical commands:. The window to close apps immediately will launch.

Select the corresponding application and force it to close. Ends all running apps and then shuts down the Mac. If open documents contain unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you wish to save them. If you have selected one or more files in the Finder, this key combination allows you to delete the selected files immediately.